Montgomery County Board of Elections

MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

9 PARK STREET, OLD COURTHOUSE
P.O. BOX 1500, FONDA, NY 12068-1500

PHONE: 518.853.8180
FAX: 518.853.8392

HOURS: MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
JULY AND AUGUST: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Lyn A. May	Jamie M. Duchessi
Commissioner (R) 853-8182	Commissioner (D) 853-8181

Terrance J. Smith	Philip Lyford
Deputy Commissioner (R) 853-8185	Deputy Commissioner (D) 853-8180

To request an absentee ballot by email, or submit a question or comment, click here.

The Board of Elections is a bipartisan office comprised of two appointed Commissioners and two Deputy Commissioners representing the state's major political parties. The Montgomery County Board of Elections includes a professional and dedicated staff of equal party representation in all facets of the Board.

The Board of Elections is charged with the administration of elections and the coordination of voter registration in Montgomery County. We supervise all county, city, and town elections, as well as provide technical assistance to villages and school board elections.

We believe an individual’s most important right of citizenship is the right to vote. The Board of Elections remains committed to protecting your right and to promote fair, open, and accessible elections.

To comply with the new Help America Vote Act Laws, voters with disabilities should click here for more information on the subject of Ballot Marking Devices

Registration Information

Absentee Voting

Election Dates

Is Your Vote Secret?

Employment Opportunities

Montgomery County City Polling Places

Montgomery County Town Polling Places

New York State Voter's Bill of Rights

Current Elected Officials

Active Voter Enrollment

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

To Register you must:

Be a US Citizen
Be 18 years of old by December 31 of the year in which you file your form (Note you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote)
Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction
Not claim the right to vote elsewhere

Deadline information:

You can register in person at your county board of elections on any business day, except Election Day.

If you want to vote in a Primary Election or November Election, you must mail or deliver your form to your county board of elections no later than 25 days prior to the election in which you want to vote.

Your eligibility to vote will be based on the date you file your form. Your county board will notify you of your eligibility, and notify you of your polling place.

You can obtain registration forms at most state agency offices, and post offices, or at any county board of elections. You can also obtain an application form from the State BOE Website (http://www.elections.state.ny.us/voting.html).

IS THE REGISTRATION FORM DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE?

No, the form is not hard to complete. You are only required to answer basic questions regarding your name, age, residence address, and any previous voting history. You are also permitted to enroll in a political party if you would like to participate in party events such as primary elections, caucuses, etc.

WHY SHOULD I WANT TO ENROLL IN A POLITICAL PARTY?

Enrolled members of a political party help to select the candidates for that party who will be on the general election ballot in November. Parties generally circulate petitions to allow people to become candidates in primary elections. A primary election is an election which the voters of a certain party select their candidates. If you are not enrolled in the party, you may not vote in the primary election.

IF I ENROLL IN A PARTY MUST I ONLY VOTE FOR THAT PARTY?

If you enroll in a party you are free to vote for any candidate at the General Election in November. Every voter should review all the candidates for each office and select the individuals that you feel would do the best job in that office.

WHAT IF I DECIDE THAT I WANT TO CHANGE MY PARTY AFFILIATION?

Voters may change their party affiliation by using a regular voter registration form. You can obtain a form at your local post office, any state agency or by contacting you local Board of Election’s office. Voters request a party change by completing the form and noting the party with which you now want to be affiliated.

Any change of enrollment must be filed with the local board of elections not later than 25 days before the general election in November. Any changes will not become effective until seven (7) days after the general election in the year you apply.

ABSENTEE VOTING

Any registered voter who is ill, or physically disabled or out of the county on Election Day may vote by absentee ballot. Contact the Board of Elections for information on obtaining an absentee application and ballot. You can also obtain an application form from the State BOE Website (http://www.elections.state.ny.us/voting.html).

Any New York state resident who is temporarily away from that residence while serving in the military may apply for an absentee ballot. Or any US citizen living abroad whose last US residence was in New York may apply for an absentee ballot for any election that contains a candidate for a federal office. Contact the Board of Elections for information on obtaining an absentee application and ballot. You may also obtain an application online at: www.fvap.gov

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR COUNTY ON ELECTION DAY?

If you think that you will be out of the county on Election Day, you can request an absentee application so you can vote by a paper ballot. You will need to complete the application informing us of your name, residence address, when you will be out of the county and how you want us to get a ballot to you. You may also come into our office and vote in person before you leave the county or have it mailed to you. If you find that you are in the county on Election Day, you are required to go to the polls and vote in person even if you have already voted by an absentee ballot. In such cases, the absentee ballot will not be counted if you vote on the voting machine.

WHAT IF I CAN NOT GET TO THE POLLS?

Any voter who has a physical disability or an illness, which does not allow him to go to the polling site, may also vote by an absentee ballot. These voters may request that they be put on a permanent list so that they will receive a ballot for each election they are eligible to vote in. You will only have to file an application once.

ELECTION DATES

PRIMARY ELECTIONS: 2nd Tuesday After 1st Monday in September - Polling Sites Open From 12 Noon to 9 PM

You must be enrolled in a New York State recognized party and there must be a primary in the party in which you are enrolled to be eligible to vote.

To enroll in a party or to change your party affiliation, you use the same form as you do for registering to vote. NOTE: if you are already registered and are filing a change of enrollment, the change will not take effect until after the next November General Election.

GENERAL ELECTION: 1st Tuesday After 1st Monday In November - Polling Sites Open From 6 AM to 9 PM

General elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. To become eligible to vote in a general election you must be registered to vote. You do not need to be enrolled in a political party in order to vote in a general election. Polling sites are open at 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Your County Board of Elections will notify you of your polling place.

IS YOUR VOTE SECRET?

Often, people are concerned about the secrecy of their vote. If you vote on a machine, your vote is protected through a system of administrative safeguards. You begin by filling out your ballot at a table with privacy dividers. Then, you proceed to the voting machine with your ballot inside a privacy sleeve. The machines are sealed from the opening of the polls until the closing of the polls. There is no way for the inspectors or anyone else to check the ballots or see what candidates you selected or how you voted on propositions. When the paper trail is printed, only the totals show and election officials cannot tell who voted for which candidate. The optical ballot scanner in no way reveals for whom you voted.

Absentee ballots are removed from their signed envelopes and shuffled so no one knows which ballot goes with which envelope, again protecting your vote. Your vote is safe!!

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE AT THE POLLING SITE?

The people you see at the polling site are election inspectors. They are citizens from the community who have been trained to help protect the honesty of the election and to help voters on Election Day. Their job involves making certain that only registered voters who live in that district get to vote on the machine. They are also there to answer any questions voters may have and to assist handicapped voters, if they ask.

We are always looking for dedicated men and women to serve as Elections Inspectors for Primary and General Elections held in March, September and November. These citizens will be placed at the voting locations throughout Montgomery County.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:

Must be a registered voter in Montgomery County (18 years or older)
Represent either the Republican or Democratic Party
Enjoy people and service to others

WHAT’S INVOLVED?

Once you have decided to dedicate yourself to the electoral process you will be required to attend a training class once a year. The County will reimburse you for attendance and for serving.

In most election years, you will be expected to work twice a year.

Primary Election Day (September): Hours to work are from 11:30 AM until after 9 PM (when the polls close.)

General Election Day (November): Hours to work are from 5:30 AM until after 9 PM (when the polls close.)

Reimbursement pay for serving as an Election Inspector is $75 for a Primary Election, $125 for a General Election, and $25 for training.

If you are interested, please contact our office for more information.

You may reach us by telephone at (518) 853-8181 or 853-8182, or by fax at 853-8392.